1. Trace Jody's feelings and responses to the hunt throughout the year. What events influence his impressions of the various hunting experiences? How would you generalize Jody's overall attitude toward the relationship of beauty and cruelty in life?

2. How does Penny define stealing and cheating? How do his interactions with his neighbors and with animals illustrate his beliefs? How do his attitudes relate to the concept of "the survival of the fittest" and to the American tendency to justify humanity's dominion over nature?

3. Some critics believe that The Yearling teaches harmful values by its suggestion that a boy must kill in order to become a man. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Could Jody have done anything other than shoot his pet? How have other books about boys and their pets, such as Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson, or Rascal, by...